oligarchy
noun/ˈɑlɪˌɡɑrki/
Frequency rank: #15,041 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
a form of government in which a small group of people holds all the power.

Example sentence
The small nation was governed as a strict oligarchy, a system in which power was held by just a handful of wealthy families.
Synonyms & related words
- autocracy
- plutocracy
- dictatorship
- tyranny
More words in ranks 15,001–15,100
- midpointThe point or position that is equally distant from both ends of something.
- monoclonalderived from a single clone of cells and therefore consisting of identical molecules or cells.
- nibbleto take small, gentle bites of food.
- nosyToo curious about other people's private affairs.
- nullifyTo make something legally invalid or of no effect.
- omeletteA dish made by beating eggs and cooking them in a pan, often with a filling.
- omnipotenthaving unlimited or very great power; all-powerful.
- overpowerto defeat or overcome by superior strength; to be too intense for the senses.
- paedophilea person who is sexually attracted to children.
- pagodaa tiered tower with multiple eaves, found in Asia and associated with Buddhist or Hindu traditions.